Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Coghlan, Hannigan, Boyle, Leyden, Bacik, O'Malley, Regan, Callely, McCarthy, Feeney, Buttimer, Hanafin, O'Reilly and Norris expressed strong views on the budget. We had a good debate yesterday evening during which Senators expressed their opinions on the budget.

Considerable uncertainty has arisen regarding old age pensioners on medical cards. The medical card gave senior citizens peace of mind and certainty, which I would like restored. Commentary in the political system and media is stifling the reality of what is taking place. I want there to be a means test for those who can afford to pay, but any person over the age of 70 in receipt of only a contributory pension or social welfare benefits is entitled to a medical card. That is my understanding of the measure from what I heard just before the Order of Business. That should allay the fears of in excess of 70% of those currently entitled to a medical card. Senator O'Reilly was correct when he said that this message need to be got across loud and clear. The responsible media might let the public know that this, as far as I understand, is the case.

Senator Callely, a former Minister of State, gave the House the benefit of his experience and advised that any person who is terminally ill be given a medical card. It will be a comfort to such unfortunate people to know that. Clarification of this measure is needed and we will do all we can to obtain that.

I will accede to the request to invite the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, back to the House to discuss this matter at the earliest possible time, perhaps next week. She has been most helpful and is probably the one Minister who is fully in support of coming to the House every time I ask her to do so following requests made by Members on the Order of Business. I will request today that the Minister come to the House to clarify Members' various concerns to ensure the public knows the up-to-date definitive position on the medical card measure.

Regarding tomorrow's Seanad business, I always discuss the business ordered with the party leaders out of courtesy and I have always made substantial progress with their assistance. I will do everything I possibly can in regard to tomorrow's business, but I cannot order it, as the matter will be taken in the Dáil at the same time. As matters stand, the business for tomorrow is ordered as I outlined this morning.

Senator Hannigan raised a matter concerning the allocation of €20 million in foreign aid to Vietnam. I will pass on his strong views to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of funding for the arts. I fully support the allocation of whatever funding is available for the arts. Senator Keaveney, in previous comments on the Order of Business, has also spoken of her full support for such funding.

Senators Regan and Norris raised the issue of the Lisbon treaty. The Government has set up a special sub-committee of the Joint Committee on European Affairs that comes under the remit of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin. The committee has 12 members, five of whom are Members from this House, some of whom were on the "Yes" side and some of whom were on the "No" side. The Government or Fianna Fáil side of this House proposed an Independent Member who was on the "No" side to express our views and to try to reach a consensus on this matter. The sub-committee is sitting three days each week for four weeks. Its deliberations are being treated with the utmost urgency by the Minister and the Government. I congratulate those who allowed their names to go forward to participate on the committee. It is a considerable commitment of their time. I will afford whatever time is required of me by the members of the sub-committee on the conclusions of their deliberations to ensure Members of this House will have an opportunity to discuss fully the sub-committee's proposals in regard to the Lisbon treaty and the decision of the people of Ireland to vote "No" to it.

I join Senator Quinn in extending our best wishes to Kofi Annan in regard to all he is doing. The Senator reminded us of the alarming statistic that 850 million people go to bed hungry every night. That puts things in perceptive. I thank the Senator for bringing this information to the attention of the House.

I agree with the Senator's request for a debate in regard to statistics on wildlife species announced yesterday. I heard a member of the royal society in the UK and a member of our equivalent society talk on the radio this morning about the importance of wildlife, in particular the species highlighted by the Senator with which we would have all been familiar during our childhood, especially those of us who lived in rural Ireland. Our wildlife is a huge asset to our heritage and I want to see it protected. We will allow time to have this matter discussed in the House at the earliest possible time.